Built to Last: The Inspirational PT Leadership Model That Preserves Culture While Scaling Growth

Aaron Kraai’s fascination with movement as a teen grew into a lifelong mission. Mentored by clinic owners, he learned both the science of physical therapy and the business behind it—folding towels, scouting locations, and negotiating leases before he even had a title.Years later, he enlisted his family to launch Doctors of Physical Therapy, painting walls and assembling equipment by hand. Today, DPT has grown to over 160 clinics nationwide.Central to its success is a culture of “brutal honesty, transparency, and trust.” Aaron hires for character first and keeps it personal, texting staff to celebrate milestones across a 1,700-member team.Aaron leads with transparency, authenticity, and an unwavering belief in building businesses that put ethics and relationships before profit. He shares the lessons, challenges, and leadership insights that helped him build a thriving, mission-driven company—giving you practical takeaways for leading with purpose and growing with heart. Aaron KraaiFounder and CEO of Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPT)Aaron Kraai is the founder and CEO of Doctors of Physical Therapy, one of the fastest‑growing PT organizations in the U.S. A lifelong learner in the field, Aaron started working in physical therapy at just 14 years old and grew his company from a single clinic into a national brand rooted in honesty, family, and servant leadership. In 2024, he was honored with USC's Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognizing his years of dedication to advancing DPT and championing physical therapy as a profession. Learn more about Doctors of Physical TherapyConnect with Aaron Kraai on LinkedInSarina RichardChief Strategy Officer, Raintree SystemsSarina Richard has spent twenty years as a Healthcare Technology Executive across the healthcare continuum, from operator to service provider to financier. At Raintree, Sarina oversees corporate strategic planning and leads cross-departmental initiatives to build best-in-class teams, systems, and processes.  Connect with Sarina Richard on LinkedInAbout RaintreeRaintree is the rehabilitation and physical therapy software of choice for enterprise and large therapy provider organizations.Discover why Raintree is the trusted EMR and practice management platform for the largest and most ambitious rehab therapy organizations in the U.S.Request a demo of Raintree